Many of the biggest action stars of all time, in the best action movies, got their start in the 1980s and 1990s when action movies really started to dominate Hollywood. Stars like Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Keanu Reeves all started making their mark in those seminal decades in film. This gallery is a tribute to all the action stars who are still making movies today, but began their careers decades ago.

Keanu Reeves

While he broke out in comedies like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Parenthood, it wasn't long before Keanu Reeves was starring in big action flicks like Point Blank and Speed. Reeves isn't just an action star, but with the lead in two now-iconic franchises, The Matrix and John Wick, he definitely belongs near the top of any list like this.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's career started early. She was just 6 years old when she appeared in her first movie in 1982 alongside her dad, Jon Voight. By the late '90s, she was on her way to becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. She got into action movies with films like Gone In 60 Seconds and her biggest franchise, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and while she has always kept one foot in more indie-type movies (including as a director), she's been a steady action star for decades.

Nicolas Cage

It's hard to come up with a Hollywood star with a more diverse acting career than Nicolas Cage. His rage is actually pretty amazing, and that certainly includes starring in some great action movies, like the iconic Con Air and the National Treasure movies.

Scarlett Johansson

Like a lot of actors on this list, Scarlett Johansson can't be pigeon-holed as simply an action star. She is, however, one of the major players in the MCU as Black Widow, and has starred in other action flicks like Jurassic World Rebirth and Lucy.

Wesley Snipes

Most of the biggest box office successes of Wesley Snipes' early career were comedies like Major League, Wildcats, and White Men Can't Jump. In the early '90s he transistioned into action movies with leading roles in the likes of New Jack City, Passenger 57, and Rising Son. He also starred in Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone, and, of course, as Blade in three movies.

Halle Berry

You might not think of Halle Berry as an action star... until you remember how many superhero movies she's starred in. Not only was she an important part of the X-Men franchise, but she was also Batwoman in 2004 and has also starred in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and others.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

This one is a little tricky. Technically, action movie legend Arnold Schwarzenegger had his first role way back in 1970 with Hercules in New York, but that was really a one-off B-movie that was soon forgotten. After he spent the 1970s winning every bodybuilding trophy on Earth, he entered Hollywood properly in 1982 when he starred in Conan the Barbarian. Everything since is action history.

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr. doesn't jump off the page as an action star. The Oscar winner has proven he can star in any genre, but as the anchor of the MCU movies for more than a decade, he definitely belongs on this list.

Tom Cruise

There's nothing to be said about Tom Cruise that hasn't already been written, right? One of the biggest stars in Hollywood history, Cruise has starred in action movies like Top Gun and its sequel, a couple of Jack Reacher movies, the Mission: Impossible franchise, and great one-offs like Edge of Tomorrow, War of the Worlds, and Minority Report, to name just a few. Plus, he famously does a ton of his own stunts, which shows just how much he belongs on any list of big action stars.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich started as a model, but transitioned to movies with films like Return to the Blue Lagoon and Dazed and Confused. Soo,n though, she started popping up in legendary action movies like The Fifth Element and, most notably, as Alice in six Resident Evil movies.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

In the '80s, a whole slew of action-first stars emerged, and one of the most popular was Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme first gained fame in No Retreat, No Surrender, and followed that with hits like Bloodsport and Cyborg.

Linda Hamilton

Director James Cameron can be divisive, but you can't argue that he knows how to create female action star leads with great parts and great casting. Linda Hamilton is a legend from her appearances in the Terminator movies over the years.

Kurt Russell

Okay, we have to acknowledge that Kurt Russell's career started when he was a child star with Disney way back in the 1960s. In the '80s, he fully dove into action flicks in a big way with movies like Escape from New York, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China, all directed by one of the decade's best directors, John Carpenter. He's since been in a slew of action movies.

Mel Gibson

With the Mad Max franchise and the Lethal Weapon movies, Mel Gibson would be on this list even if those were his only movies. Of course, he has so much more, like Braveheart, Ransom, and many of the other best action movies of the '90s.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton debuted in 1991's comedy Flirting, and in the '90s and beyond, she's starred in action movies like Mission: Impossible 2, The Chronicles of Riddick, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and 2012. She's also starred in TV shows like Westworld that fit in this genre, too.

Dolph Lundgren

One of the pillars of cheesy (and awesome) '80s action is the great Dolph Lundgren. From fantasy heroes like He-Man in 1987's Masters of the Universe to communist boxers like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, he's been a staple for decades in lots of action movies, including part of the O.G. cast in The Expendables franchise.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu kicked off her career in the early '90s, and before too long, she started doing some awesome action movies. Probably the most notable are the Charlie's Angels movies and the Kill Bill movies, but she's also got some less-well-known ones like The Man with the Iron Fists, directed by RZA, and even superhero movies, like Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Jason Statham

Like other actors on this list, Jason Statham didn't start in true action flicks. His first roles were in the Guy Ritchie films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but within a couple of years, he became a full-blown action hero in The Transporter and The Italian Job. Now it seems like he's in all the biggest action franchises, like The Expendables and the Fast & Furious movies.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood. She won an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the terrifying true story Monster. She's also been in acclaimed dramas like The Road, Cider House Rules, and Bombshell. Of course, she's starred in a whole slew of great action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Æon Flux, and a few of the Fast & Furious movies.

Jet Li

Jet Li started out in movies in Hong Kong in the early 1980s, where he quickly established himself as one of the great martial arts stars in Chinese-language films. After a decade and a half in Hong Kong, he moved to Hollywood in the late '90s, starring first as the villain in Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. He became such a big action star that he was included in the first three Expendables movies.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner might not seem like the typical action star, but he definitely is. Movies like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Postman, and the incredibly underrated Waterworld prove that when he wants to be, he can be a great action hero.

Michelle Yeoh

Like some other actors on this list, Michelle Yeoh starred in martial arts movies in Hong Kong in the '90s. Her breakout film in the West was as Wai Lin in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies, where she showed the whole world her stage fighting and stunt skills. Since then, she's been in hits like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and, of course, Everything Everywhere All at Once, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Bruce Willis

There's no way this list would be complete without the great Bruce Willis! Die Hard will always be one of the best action movies of all time and in many ways helps define what a action movie in the 1980s looked and felt like. Only Willis could have pulled off the the wit and charm of John McClane. He's been in a ton of action movies since, of course. He is now retired, due to his health, but he worked right up until he no longer could.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz took a long hiatus from acting, finally returning in the 2025 Netflix release, appropriately called Back in Action. While she may be best known for her roles in romcoms like There's Something About Mary and The Mask and dramas like Gangs of New York and Vanilla Sky, she's had her fair share of action hits too, like Charlie's Angels and Knight and Day.

Steven Seagal

It's easy to forget just how huge an action star Steven Seagal was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He actually sort of dominated the box office with movies like Hard To Kill, Above The Law, Mark For Death, and Out For Justice. He reached the artistic pinnacle of his career with 1992's Under Siege. It's not just a great movie for teenage boys like his first four movies; it's legitimately a great movie, with great performances from Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Busey. Sure, he's not making movies on that level anymore, but he's still been churning out straight-to-video-type releases for decades.

Peter Weller

Peter Weller's breakout came in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension in 1984, but he really hit the big time with 1987's classic RoboCop. Sure, it was insanely violent, but RoboCop had a unique political message, too. Weller's been going strong ever since.

Robert Patrick

The iconic T-1000 in Terminator 2 became one of the great action villains of the 1990s. Robert Patrick played the role of the callous, cold robot killer perfectly. It established him as a legit action star, and he's been busy ever since.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke isn't only an action star. In fact, most of his roles have been in serious dramas, starting with movies like The Pope of Greenwich Village and 9½ Weeks in the 1980s, but he's definitely proven his action bona fides with roles in Iron Man 2, Sin City, and The Expendables.

Matt Damon

Anyone who has starred as Jason Bourne in four films deserves to be on this list. Sure, Matt Damon might not be the first actor you think of as an action hero, but come on! You can't deny that he belongs on this list for those films alone. Throw in movies like The Martian and Elysium, and he definitely should be here.

Dwayne Johnson

We're making a slight exception here. Technically, Dwayne Johnson's first movie credit came in 2001 in The Mummy Returns, but he had been quite famous for years for his work in the WWE throughout the 1990s. So while he didn't get his start in movies until later, he was a well-established star years before that. Of course, in the two and a half decades since his first movie role, he's become one of the biggest action heroes of all time.

Zoe Bell

This is another interesting case. Zoe Bell's first acting role in a movie was in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof in 2007. However, she had already built a legendary career as a stunt woman going back to the 1990s. With the Academy Awards (finally) adding a trophy for best stunts, we're going to include Bell here, because she's been performing in movies for decades.

Will Smith

He started as a rapper, then got into acting with comedy, and in the '90s, Will Smith became a big action star with movies like Independence Day, Bad Boys, and Men in Black. He's proven to be a very versatile actor over the years, starring in every genre of film you can think of.

Michelle Yeoh has been known for starring in action movies for decades, but did you know there was a time in her life, almost 30 years ago, when she almost hung it up completely? Just ahead of Yeoh’s Hollywood debut as one of the “Bond girls”, the actress was in a life-threatening stunt accident that had her rethinking her career. However, a meeting with Quentin Tarantino (of all people) actually inspired her to keep going.

At the age of 62, the actress’ career is bigger than ever, between her 2023 Oscar win and all the upcoming Michelle Yeoh movies. However, she recently reflected on her traumatic accident that almost altered the course of her career, saying:

Before Yeoh became a Hollywood star, she rose to fame with a series of Hong Kong action films in the ‘80s and ‘90s that notably had her working alongside Jackie Chan, Tony Leung, Donnie Yen and Jet Li. However, as she explained on The Graham Norton Show, she suffered a serious accident while trying to accomplish a stunt from an overpass to a moving truck. As she continued:

One wouldn’t blame Yeoh for hanging it all up after being faced with a near-death experience like that. However, a visit from the director behind Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction helped her put things into perspective. In her words:

Quentin Tarantino has long vocally been a huge fan of Michelle Yeoh and some of her Hong Kong films. He even called a stunt sequence she did in 1992’s Supercop "the greatest stunts ever filmed in any movie ever."

As Michelle Yeoh recalls, when Tarantino visited Hong Kong in the ‘90s, he set up a meeting with herself, along with Jackie Chan and Jet Li. During her meeting with him, he helped her realize how much she loves her job and it inspired her to not let her accident put a wrench in her career.

In the few years after the release of The Stunt Woman, Michelle Yeoh had some of the biggest movies of her career. She was in Tomorrow Never Dies with Pierce Brosnan’s 007 and she starred in 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, as well. Imagine if she had quit before having those experiences? She would have missed out on so much.

Despite Quentin Tarantino’s love for Yeoh, the pair have never worked together. When the actress once asked him why she wasn’t cast in Kill Bill, he cleverly quipped “Who would believe that Uma Thurman could kick your ass?” Here’s hoping these two do work together someday. In the meantime, you can see Yeoh when the Star Trek: Section 31 release date comes on January 24 and see her in the Wicked cast as Madame Morrible.

I was shocked when I first learned The Expendables 4, a.k.a. Expend4bles, was not just happening, but as a theatrical release. Despite being an action movie lover, I haven't had much interest in The Expendables franchise since I saw the first trailer for the first movie way back when, so the news made me wonder what I was missing out on. So I decided to watch the 2010 movie recently to see what the hype was about, and all I can say is I'm not surprised The Expendables 4 is struggling with critics and at the box office against The Nun II. 

I watched The Expendables with my Netflix subscription to see what the hype was about, hoping to understand how this franchise made it to four movies. After the credits rolled, I had no answers to my question, and am still wondering how this franchise spawned three sequels after a first entry that was below par for the action genre.

The Expendables Francise Has Made A Lot Of Money 

Before I get too deep into tearing down this franchise, I need to take a chance to acknowledge that there was definitely an audience for these movies along the way. While critics were never on the side of these movies, the first movie had a worldwide gross of $274.5 million per BoxOfficeMojo with a reported $80 million budget. That alone would score any film a sequel, and when that sequel makes $315 million, that's going to turn into a third movie. 

All this is to say that until seemingly very recently, there were people seeing these movies. People, plus money, equals sequels. So, I am being a bit facetious when I ask the question of how a fourth movie happened, but for the sake of looking at the overall product as an action fan, I still am scratching my head about what so many saw in it. 

The Expendables Tried Way Too Hard To Make Every Actor Look Badass

When every character is trying to act like the toughest man in the room, the whole scene falls apart into pure comedy. I couldn't help but bust out laughing watching Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in that church scene all try to out-tough each other, and it just devolves into some bizarre pissing contest. Weirdly enough, it flies in the face of Stallone's recent comments about action heroes, as none of these characters keep their mouths shut and just perform heroic deeds. 

What really makes it underwhelming for me is that in normal circumstances, I'd expect the real tough guy in the room to stay silent and let the wannabes talk. The way The Expendables plays it is everyone is that shit-talking wannabes, and there's no badass to set everyone straight. It's just two hours of dudes hurling empty threats and insults at each other between fight scenes, and it's way goofier than I'm sure was intended. 

The Action Of The Expendables Is Below Standard For The Genre

The Expendables is promoted to feature some of the best names in the action genre, and yet, the movie is chocked full of moments in which the action is well below the mark for a movie like this. In an age where the John Wick franchise is crafting awesome fight scenes more elaborate than a Star Wars lightsaber battle, I was watching a then-62-year-old Sylvester Stallone struggling to maintain a consistent run so that he could catch a plane. 

The physical limitations of the stars aside, there are scenes in The Expendables where the fight choreography feels nonexistent. Take the opening scene, in which the heroes stand in an open room, fire at the enemy terrorists and somehow dispatch them all with zero casualties. Is it badass or is it just lucky that they decided to start firing before taking any form of cover? So much of this movie has moments where it looks like it's a miracle the heroes aren't injured at the very least, to the point I think they subconsciously are aware they're in a movie and know they can't be hurt. Why else would Lee Christmas jog directly through an enemy camp solo while tossing random grenades into bunkers? 

The Level Of Disrespectful Humor Directed At Jet Li's Yin Yang Is In Poor Taste

The first Expendables movie includes Jet Li, which, at first glance, feels like a nod toward the actor's various accolades in Hollywood as an action star. In execution, Yin Yang (the only character with a nickname that directly ties to his cultural background) is frequently shown to be the weakest of the group. At one point, Terry Crews' character refers to the crew as four-and-a-half men, referring to Li's size. Yin Yang is often the punchline in the movie rather than the hero alongside the rest of the crew. 

In my opinion, it's pretty damn disrespectful to an actor who carried the action genre with some damn good movies throughout the 2000s. If Dolph Lundgren is owed flowers for his accolades in cinema leading up to The Expendables, you can't tell me Li didn't deserve more respect for his work in Unleashed, Cradle 2 The Grave and Fearless. He would've beat Gunner's ass if Barney hadn't stepped in, and he deserved more than a patronizing response in the movie's ending about that happening. 

The Action Genre Has Evolved Past The Expendables Franchise In 2023

After watching The Expendables, I went on a search to see what the top action movies of 2010 were. The Expendables took the top spot that year, but in 2012, The Expendables 2 was absent from many top lists I browsed. The same is true of the third movie, and the further you continue, one thing is clear: the action genre evolved throughout the 2010s, and gone are the days when we're beckoning for the olden days of the '80s action stars. 

That might be my opinion, but in an opening weekend where The Expendables 4 pulled in only  $8.3 million, I don't think it's a bold take. The numbers indicate there are fewer audiences looking for this franchise, perhaps because there's a lot more quality competition now in 2023 than there was when the original movie came out. Hell, even looking at the top action movies of 2022 list I put out, there's not a single entry I'd put anything Expendables-related over. 

I originally decided to watch The Expendables to understand how the action franchise remained successful throughout four entries, but given the recent headlines about the fourth movie's struggles, I may just have wound up with the answer for why it had diminishing box office returns opening weekend with every entry. As an action lover who has enjoyed many films in this genre with all of the talent that appear in these movies, I say with all do respect it may be time to put this franchise out to pasture. 

The Expendables 4 is out in theaters now, and while it may not be my bag, I'm sure there are still fans out there who are interested in seeing it. As for anyone who hasn't had a chance to check out the original movies, all three are currently available to stream over on Netflix. 

Disney's new live-action Mulan arrived on Disney+ this weekend, for a premium price, and while it's too early to know how successful the debut has been financially, the social media traffic alone has certainly indicated that a lot of people dropped the cash to see the new film. Overall, the movie is getting solid reviews, with especially high marks for lead actress Yifei Liu. I suppose that means we can all thank Jet Li for saving her from potentially serious injury or death several years ago.

Recently, Yifei Liu revealed that while making another movie in China a number of years ago, Jet Li may have actually saved the actress's life when she was unable to get a horse to stop on set. It seems neither one of them has forgotten that experience, as the Mulan actress told E! that Li made reference to it while filming Mulan when it was Liu's turn to save him...

Hopefully, it's not too much of a spoiler to know that Mulan ends up having to save the emperor in the new film. The same thing happens in the animated Disney version from over 20 years ago, so it shouldn't be too shocking. Although, the way that rescue happens this time around is quite different. It seems that Yifei Liu's career has come full circle. 12 years ago she needed rescuing, but now she's the one doing the rescuing, even if this time it's fictional.

Who knows what could have happened to Yifei Liu had Jet Li not been there to help her 12 years ago, she might not have been around 12 years later to play Mulan rescuing him. And based on most reviews, that would be unfortunate. While Mulan's reviews aren't necessarily glowing, they are generally positive, and the performance of the cast as a whole, not simply the led actress, is a big part of that success.

Having said that, while the movie may be good, and be a Disney produced tentpole, those things combined don't necessarily add up to the obvious success that they once did. While the movie is being released in theaters in many international markets, it's only available in the U.S. on Disney+ for $29.99 plus a Disney+ subscription, and as this is the first movie that we've seen go that route, there's really no telling who that will work out. Disney has called this decision a "one-off" but the studio will surely be watching the results to see how well the idea is embraced.

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Over the past few years, Disney has made a habit out of producing live-action adaptations of their classic animated blockbusters. What started with Maleficent and Cinderella has grown into a trend that's included projects like Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. The next of these movies is Niki Caro's Mulan, which is finding its home on Disney+ over the weekend. And it turns out that the great Jet Li actually saved Mulan actress Yifei Liu's life in a previous movie.

Jet Li has had a long and celebrated career in film, with Mulan marking another major blockbuster for the Chinese actor. And while the movie will be Yifei Liu's first introduction to such a wide audience, she's been working as an actress and recording artist for years. Liu previously shared the screen with Li on another project called The Forbidden Kingdom, and recently revealed that the actor once helped save her life during a stunt. As she put it,

What a gentleman. Jet Li is a beloved actor and badass, but it turns out that he also supports and worries about his co-stars, especially during a stunt sequence. For Yifei Liu its an experience she'll never forget, and it's especially exciting to see the two actors collaborating again on Disney+'s Mulan.

Mulan is available exclusively on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Yifei Liu's comments to Entertainment Tonight will no doubt enhance the way Disney+ subscribers will look at Mulan once streaming it. Niki Caro's blockbuster might not have any of the original's songs, but the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. What's more, audiences can expect Liu and Jet Li to have some serious chemistry, especially after working and sharing such a dangerous situation together.

While the new Lion King movie was a nearly shot-for-shot remake of the original, it's clear that Niki Caro has a new take for Mulan. The live-action movie is completely void of the original's iconic songs, as well as characters like Mushu. The blockbuster will also heavily lead on action, with Yifei Liu shown doing sword work, riding a horse, and shooting a bow and arrow.

Of course, Mulan wasn't originally going to arrive on Disney+. The studio had every intentions of bringing the movie to theaters, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into that well-oiled machine. Instead it's heading to streaming, albeit for an additional fee. We'll just have to see how much money it manages to accrue for the House of Mouse.

Mulan is available on Disney+ now. Be sure to check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

Following a long-running history of successfully bringing legendary tales to life through animation and music, Disney just couldn't resist a little reflection on their classics. The studio's live-action remakes started with 2010's Alice in Wonderland and has since turned into a full-blown creative venture to recreate much of the library of its animated films including Cinderella, The Jungle Book and The Beauty and the Beast.

With the incredible success of these massive live-action releases, Disney, of course, isn't stopping there, with tons of the company's familiar stories hitting the screen in the future, including a new iteration of the legendary Chinese folktale first explored by the studio in 1998's Mulan. Disney's upcoming live-action Mulan is set to be a full-scale martial arts epic, which looks to position itself further from its animated classic than the live action remakes that came before.

Curious about what the House of Mouse has in store for the upcoming Mulan? It's not as mysterious as the dark side of the moon. We've got you covered with this guide on everything we know so far about the live-action Mulan below:

What Is Mulan's Release Date?

When a live-action Mulan was originally announced back in 2015, it was given a November 2018 release date. The project moved a bit slower than initially expected and was pushed back a full year and a half in early 2018. Disney's Nutcracker and the Four Realms took its spot, with Mulan now set to charge theaters on March 27, 2020. With 2019 incredibly packed with live-action Disney releases, and two other '90s films, The Lion King and Aladdin, being revisited over summer, it's a clever move for the studio to place Mulan there instead. Currently, the Disney film will open next to Hasbro and Paramount Pictures' planned G.I. Joe reboot. Considering the badass warrior's track record, I think she can take on a few soldiers opening weekend, don't you?

What Will Mulan Be Rated?

Disney's recent live-action remakes have been consistently PG to cater to the entire family and still allow some leeway for elements such as fantasy action and some frightening sequences. Mulan is a Disney Princess that needs to be marketable to children of young ages and the studio's formula for live-action PG flicks have worked quite well for them so far. Considering Mulan has its titular heroine in the middle of a historical war, the film could potentially become the first PG-13 film of its kind if Disney chooses to. A grittier PG-13 Mulan from Disney would certainly be an interesting and exciting sight to see, and it would still draw large audiences. The studio does go for PG-13 ratings for its Marvel and Star Wars endeavors, though Mulan's rating is more likely to be PG.

Who Will Direct Mulan?

Disney's new Mulan found its director in early 2017 with New Zealand filmmaker Niki Caro at the project's center. Caro first gained prominence for her work on Whale Rider in 2002, which was a story about a young Maori girl who aspires to be the chief of her tribe. She helmed North Country in 2005, which scored Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand Oscar nominations, and most recently made The Zookeeper's Wife in 2017. The director worked with Disney before on 2015's McFarland, USA, a Kevin Costner-led sports drama about a high school cross-country team. With Mulan, Caro becomes the second female director to be hired by Disney to direct a movie exceeding a $100 million budget, after Ava DuVernay's A Wrinkle in Time. Caro has a highly-impressive resume as a director and having a woman's eye on a legendary female-fronted tale is a good move by the studio.

Who Is Writing Mulan?

The live-action Mulan recruited a team of four writers for the upcoming release, with Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin penciled in as screenwriters. Jaffa and Silver have collaborated on huge box office hits such as 2015's Jurassic World and the most recent trilogy of Planet of the Apes movies. The pair are an exciting choice for Mulan as they have successfully brought beloved franchises into the present and on a larger scale. Hynek and Martin are also a screenwriting pair, though lesser-known, since they have only penned a 2018 Lifetime Christmas movie called Christmas Perfection. The blend of these talents is definitely a unique combination, though for a film so embedded in Chinese culture, it may be worth noting that none of them are of Asian descent.

What Is The Live-Action Mulan Story?

At its core, Mulan will follow a story we are familiar with -- a young woman who disguises herself as a male warrior to take her father's place in battle in order to save him. Unlike other live-action remakes, Mulan looks to be changing up quite a few key elements found in the 1998 film, which is contrary to the live-action retellings we've recently seen from Disney. The upcoming film will not have the heroine facing off against the leader of the Hun Army, Shan Yu, or falling in love with her captain, Li Shang. She will instead be up against a powerful witch and find love with a fellow solider in her unit, along with there being a new Commander character created for the film to serve as her mentor.

Will Mulan Be A Musical?

Disney animated classics such as Mulan will always be remembered for catchy and memorable songs such as "Reflection" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You," although, so far, only the live-action Beauty and the Beast has opted to be a full-fledged musical. When Niki Caro originally said that there would be no songs in the live-action Mulan many fans on Twitter were outraged. This wasn't the final word from Caro about the music, though, and she later confirmed that music will play a role in the movie, but how much? Considering how Mulan seems to be veering quite a bit from the animated classic, don't expect to see the whole soundtrack back on screen. But, it would be tough for the studio to pass on an opportunity to implement a beautifully iconic song like "Reflection" and / or introduce some new ones, as well.

Mulan

After a team of Disney casting directors conducted a year-long search, traveling across five continents and seeing nearly 1000 candidates, Chinese star Liu Yifei (also known as Crystal Liu) won the role of Hua Mulan. The 31-year-old actress has had a career in both China and America as an actress, model and brand ambassador. Liu is fluent in English and has been in Hollywood films, including 2008's The Forbidden Kingdom opposite Jet Li and Jackie Chan and 2014's Outcast which also starred Nicolas Cage and Hayden Christensen. When Mulan began filming a few months ago, fans were given a first look at Liu as Mulan striking a familiar pose. She looks to embody the character well, balancing her strength, beauty and intellect. Early concerns about Disney whitewashing the character or giving the role to any Asian actress arose but with Liu's casting, it looks like the studio did their homework to find a believable Mulan.

Mushu

What's a Disney musical without a cute and quick-witted animal sidekick to ease the tension of their hero's journey? For 1998's Mulan, her sidekick was a pocket-sized dragon named Mushu who acted as her spirit guardian and was voiced by Eddie Murphy. While fans have suggested Murphy resume the role in a dragon suit amongst an otherwise completely racially-correct cast, we don't know too much about Mushu's role in the live-action Mulan. The lovable dragon will reportedly be part of the film, but a voice role for the character has not been cast. (Or revealed?) For a more true-to-life Mulan film, the filmmakers would likely take a more culturally-accurate approach to the character or include him in as an easter egg to the original, such as how the mice in the live-action Cinderella were included.

Yao, Ling And Chien Po

When Mulan finds herself in a military training camp, she encounters a trio of misfit soldiers, the high-tempered Yao, goofball Ling and soft-hearted Po. In the beginning, she rubs them the wrong way when she tries to prove her masculinity by punching Yao in the face, which leads to a camp-wide fight, but they warm up to her as the movie progresses. Each of these familiar characters have also been cast in the new Mulan with Chen Tang playing Yao, Jimmy Wong as Ling and Doua Moua as Chein Po. Tang is a television actor who has appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Grey's Anatomy and Amazon's Bosch. Wong is best known for his role in the digital series Video Game High School along with John Dies in the End and his highly-popular online cooking show Feast of Fiction and Moua has appeared in Gran Torino, Blue Bloods and Iron Fist. Mulan will certainly mark the actors highest profile films to date and will likely bring some comedic relief to the epic.

Li Shang?

Let's get down to business, because this is where things start to sway from the Mulan we know. In the 1998 film, Captain Li Shang is a tough leader of the military unit who challenges the soldiers through a rigorous training process. While Mulan (who first goes by Ping) starts off on his bad side, they start really getting along when she becomes a highly-skilled soldier, only to crush his dreams when he finds out she's a woman. It's a story arc loved by the LGBT community for its hints of bisexuality (which were unintended by Disney), though it is a relationship built on lies and Li Shang isn't exactly a feminist. There won't be a live-action Li Shang in the upcoming Mulan, as it seems he is being split into two characters.

Donnie Yen has been cast as a fresh character named Commander Tung, who will serve as Mulan's mentor and teacher. Yen is best known for his role in Rogue One, the Ip Man films and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yoson An will be playing another new character named Chen Honghui, a fellow soldier who is described as a confident and ambitious recruit to Tung's unit. He will become the most important ally to Mulan and then flourish into a love interest. The actor was recently in The Meg and has a role in the Peter Jackson-produced Mortal Engines.

The Villians

Among Disney's famed antagonists, Mulan's Shan-Yu is one of the most forgettable. The leader of the Hun army is ruthless and intimidating but he was given very little to do and wasn't carefully developed. Perhaps this is why the next iteration of the story will feature completely new villains, with the main antagonist being a powerful witch named Xian Lang, played by Gong Li. The actress also played the main baddie in Memoirs of a Geisha in 2005 to much acclaim. Her inclusion adds an element of magic to Mulan not before seen, perhaps creating new circumstances for the army. Jason Scott Lee is also joining Mulan as Bori Khan who is a warrior leader seeking to avenge his father's death and who aligns himself with Xian Lang. Lee is best known for his portrayal of Bruce Lee in 1993's Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and his voice role of David in Lilo & Stitch.

The Emperor

Disney has cast Jet Li as the Emperor of China in the upcoming live-action Mulan. Li is one of the most prominent Chinese actors to grace Hollywood, starting with his debut in 1998's Lethal Weapon 4. In the early '00s he made a name for himself as a martial artist action hero, most recently appearing in The Expendables movies. In the studio's first Mulan, the emperor gives the order for one male from each household being drafted into the army and makes a brief appearance in the end of the film, when Mulan and some of the soldiers defeat Shan Yu. Perhaps he will be given a larger role in this film? Li and Liu Yifei (Mulan) have worked alongside each other before, in 2008's The Forbidden Kingdom.

More Mulan Characters

The live-action Mulan looks to be bringing a blend of what we know from the animated classic with some completely brand new story elements and characters. Along with what we've discussed thus far, the movie will also feature Mulan's sister Hua Xiu played by New Zealand born Chinese-Vietnamese actress Xana Tang, a role not found in the 1998 film. Utkarsh Ambudkar and Chum Ehelepola will also play a con artist duo, respectively named Skatch and Ramtish. Ambudkar has held roles in The Mindy Project and Pitch Perfect and Ehelepola is best known for 2012's A Moody Christmas. There's certainly a lot in store for Mulan in 2020, with a jam-packed cast that has loads to offer the Disney live-action remake.

Sometimes, missing the boat on a franchise like The Matrix turns out to be a painful decision to have made. However, in the case of Jet Li turning down a crucial role in both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, it was a clean and easy decision. His refusal to participate in those films was boiled down to the following rationale:

While taking the role of Seraph, the guardian and companion to The Matrix universe's Oracle, could have set Li up for life; there was that one catch that made him uneasy. No one can blame him for turning it down either, as any martial artist, or even any actor, will tell you, their signature characteristics are what keep them in the business. So, for the sake of Jet Li's livelihood, as well as his unique moves, it was the choice that he felt had to be made, with the role eventually going to actor Colin Chou.

Apparently, according to Abacus News, this recent discussion isn't the only time that Jet Li has voiced concerns about technology overtaking the film industry. In fact, previous remarks have basically shown that Li had the right to fear that, one day, if the studios really wanted to, they could make it look like any other actor was performing moves only Li was known for.

Despite turning down what became the monolithic Matrix franchise, Jet Li went on to do pretty well for himself. Not only did he use that time he would have spent kicking Agent Smith's ass to fight for the glory of China in Hero, he also went on to be part of the wildly successful Expendables trilogy. As if that wasn't enough, Li is about to become part of the Disney family, as he'll be playing the Emperor of China in the live-action remake of Mulan.

While actors turning down big roles in The Matrix trilogy has given us some pretty massive "what if" scenarios in the past, there's no question that Jet Li has done rather well for himself, and hasn't looked back. Though, now, there's an entire alternate universe version of The Matrix trilogy that sees Will Smith, Val Kilmer, and Jet Li fighting a whole bunch of machines; and we can't help but think about how interesting that version could have been.

You can see Jet Li next in Mulan, which is set to hit theaters on March 27, 2020.

A few days ago, a photo surfaced online of actor Jet Li looking frail, sickly and well beyond his years. People were shocked and dismayed to see the Fearless actor, known for his boyish looks and sprightly moves onscreen, in such a state, and there was a subsequent outpouring of concern for the health of the martial arts movie legend. The worry and concern of his fans for his well-being eventually found its way back to Jet Li himself, and the actor has reached out to put everyone at ease, letting them know that he is feeling great. Check out his response to the recent fan concerns, below:

It is certainly reassuring for Jet Li to have reached out like this to let everyone know that he isn't in the dire state that fans feared. You can also see in the photos he posted on his Facebook that he is walking upright on his own and doesn't look nearly as old or frail as he did in that original picture. It is great to hear that he is feeling good and seems to be in good spirits. Also letting his fans know that he has projects that he is working on is encouraging, indicating that if he is healthy enough to work, things aren't as bad as they seemed.

You can check out the original post that caused such shock and worry below to see how different Jet Li appears in it and why people were worried about the actor, who is only 55.

You can understand why this photo caused such consternation, but it is also easy to see how it could be misleading towards the actor's health. The lighting here is deeply unflattering and as such it makes Jet Li look much older than he is, as it would for most people captured in such light. His posture also makes him look like he is being held up, but from Jet Li's post you can see that probably isn't the case. Simply put, this was just a bad photo, it happens.

Part of the concern was undoubtedly due to Jet Li appearing in a photo looking so much different than the Jet Li we are used to seeing in movies. We are used to seeing a Jet Li with boyish features and a head of hair. Yet, he is now a 55-year-old man and like many he has gone grey and lost his hair. He is also suffering from hyperthyroidism, which can cause weight loss and fatigue, among a number of other symptoms. Plus I imagine doing wushu at such a high-level from such a young age is probably pretty rough on your joints in the long run.

I'm sure it probably doesn't feel great for people to worry that you are old and sickly, but hopefully the knowledge that he is so beloved and so many people care about him, that concern for his health caused such an uproar is touching. Fortunately, Jet Li is doing well and we can look forward to seeing him back onscreen in the future -- perhaps in that next Expendables film?

If not in the action franchise, one of Jet Li's upcoming projects is the upcoming Disney live-action remake of Mulan, where he is signed on to play the emperor of China. Mulan hits theaters on March 27, 2020. For movies hitting theaters a little bit sooner, check out our 2018 release schedule.

Disney's new Mulan movie may be coming out a year and a half later than previously scheduled, but make no mistake, it's still one of the higher priorities in Disney's lineup of live action adaptations of their classic animated movies. Last November, Liu Yifei, a.k.a. Crystal Liu, was cast as the eponymous protagonist, and last night, word came in that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story actor Donnie Yen has been cast to play Commander Tung, who will be Mulan's teacher and mentor. Now a few other casting announcements have come in, including who will play the villain. However, if you were looking forward to seeing Mulan and Shan Yu clash in a live action setting, you'll want to see that wish aside, as evidenced by Memoirs of a Geisha's Gong Li being brought aboard as the main antagonist.

1998's Mulan saw the main heroine and her allies dealing with Shan Yu and his invading Hun army, but not so in this live action version. Instead, Gong Li will play a powerful witch, though no other details were revealed about this character. Disney's recent live action adaptations have varied from being relatively straightforward remakes (like Beauty and the Beast) to taking significant creative liberties (like Maleficent). As we learn more about Mulan, it appears as if the movie will fall into the latter camp. Sure, the core premise of a young woman disguising herself as a man, taking her father's place in the Chinese army and ultimately saving the country will remain intact, but some of the more specific story details are being altered. In this case, rather than battling Shan Yu, Mulan will have to defeat this mysterious witch. Sword-fighting a Hun chieftain is by no means easy, but when your adversary is using magic, that makes the conflict even more challenging.

But Gong Li's addition wasn't the only Mulan casting news that broke today. THR also reported that longtime action star Jet Li is in final talks to play the emperor of China, who gives the order for one male from each household to be drafted into the army. Pat Morita voiced China's emperor in the original Mulan movie. Li made his Hollywood debut in 1998 with Lethal Weapon 4 and has since appeared in projects like The Expendables series and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Even though the emperor would be safely protected during Mulan, perhaps certain events will allow the actor another opportunity to show off his action chops. The Letdown's Xana Tang has also been cast as Mulan's sister, another character who wasn't in the animated tale.

Directed by Niki Caro, Mulan will be released in theaters on March 27, 2020. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more casting announcements and other updates, and if you're interested in learning what other live action adaptations Disney is working on, look through our handy guide.

Vin Diesel has provided an update on the third instalment to the XXX franchise. Unfortunately, it’s not the best of news though, as it’s been revealed that Jet Li has left the production. But, before this departure could sink XXX: The Return Of Xander Cage into anything close to a crisis, it was confirmed that Donnie Yen has replaced Li, which isn't the worst trade off.

Rather mysteriously though, sources close to Twitch Film revealed that Jet Li left the project for undisclosed reasons. But with the martial arts superstar off the production, there was now a gaping hole for Vin Diesel and company to fill. And The Last Witch Hunter actor didn’t miss a beat in casting Donnie Yen as Jet Li’s replacement. Diesel also took to Facebook to show an image of himself, Donnie Yen, and director D.J. Caruso working on a scene.

Donnie Yen long ago established himself as one of the most formidable martial arts actors in cinema thanks to his work in the Ip Man franchise and countless other action films. His stock has been rising in the United States recently, and 2016 is expected to be a rather big year for him. Not only is he taking one of the leading roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend, but he also has a prominent part in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story .

The Donnie Yen and Jet Li merry-go-round at XXX 3 doesn’t mean that the production is in disarray though. The film’s already confirmed roster hasn’t changed much, with Vin Diesel being joined by Tony Jaa, Deepika Padukone, Toni Collette, and Samuel L. Jackson, while D.J Caruso is still directing the latest instalment. 

There's even a rumor that Ice Cube, whose acting stock has only risen since his appearance as Darius Stone in XXX: State Of The Union, will also return. As yet, there’s no confirmation that the 21 Jump Street and Ride Along star will actually appear, but let’s hope that proves to be the case, because it’s always good to see Cube’s gruff exterior pop up on screen.

What makes XXX 3’s release all the more impressive is just how poorly XXX: State Of The Union fared back in 2005. With Vin Diesel deciding not to reprise the character of Xander Cage, whose extreme sports antics in 2002’s XXX resulted in the film grossing $277.4 million, Ice Cube was brought on board to lead the new iteration of the franchise. That didn't end well though, because it cost $87 million and only took in $71 million.

The combination of the duo would certainly make XXX 3 even more appealing to audiences, especially since both Furious 7 and Ride Along 2 recently proved to be box office behemoths. XXX: The Return Of Xander Cage is currently in production, and it's likely to hit screens at some point in 2017. 

Well this sequel is really shaping up to be better than expected. While still in the development stages, XXX: The Return Of Xander Cage has begun the casting process at full force. Besides previously announced Samuel L. Jackson and of course Vin Diesel himself, XXX: The Return of Xander Cage has just signed on another heavy hitter, literally.

It has just been announced that actor and martial arts Jet Li will be joining the cast of XXX: The Return of Xander Cage. This seems like the perfect choice for the XXX franchise, as there was a common thread of extreme athleticism in the previous two incarnations.

On a similar note, and apparently highlighting a focus on impressive fight sequences, martial artist Tony Jaa will be joining the cast as well, as reported by Twitchfilm. Jaa was previously seen in the highly successful Furious 7. Clearly, Vin Diesel enjoyed working alongside him and has since offered him a role in Return of Xander Cage.

The third and final new cast member announced is Indian movie star Deepika Padukone. While Padukone will be a newcomer to American audiences, she is one of the most popular and highest paid stars in the Indian film world. She’ll be making her Hollywood debut in the new XXX.

The original XXX was released in 2002 and was a box office success. The film starred Vin Diesel as Xander Cage, an extreme athlete and stuntman with a poor attitude. He is recruited by a National Security Agent, played by Samuel L. Jackson to assist the NRA and become a spy. While this might seem like a semi-ridiculous concept, the movie drew impressive numbers during its 2002 run.

A sequel was eventually produced, although Vin Diesel’s schedule when filming The Pacifier made him unable to star as the title character, making it seem like an entirely different film altogether. Starring Ice Cube as the new lead character, XXX: State Of The Union was a box office failure as well as being panned by critics. So, news of a new installment in the series is a bit of a surprise.

The new title, Return Of Xander Cage, seems like an appropriate one after the debacle that the first sequel was. However, with Vin Diesel and Samuel L. Jackson returning to their 2002 roles, there is some hope. Vin Diesel has been doing rather well as a producer, and has announced his plans for expanding the universe of the Riddick franchise. With Riddick having an upcoming movie and television show, Diesel is sure to have quite the busy year.

We’re in a film climate where reboots and nostalgia are ruling the day. After the massive success of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and with Netflix granting new life to previously finished series like Full House and Gilmore Girls, it makes sense that Vin Diesel would try to cash in on this trend.

Only time will tell if XXX: Return Of Xander Cage is any good. We’ll continue to update you as production moves forward.

Okay, so, a lot of you didn't see The Expendables 3 this weekend, and that's a pity. It's not because the movie's good (it isn't), it's not because the heroes of yesterday's movies need your support, and not because Sylvester Stallone is starving. Instead, it's because you missed out on a little history. Did you know there were a couple of gay Expendables? Specifically, a couple of hugely famous gay Expendables? GAY SPOILERS AHEAD!

Speaking to Grantland, director Patrick Hughes confirmed that the two characters seen canoodling at the end of The Expendables 3 are in fact a couple. From the piece, which is actually a fun read:

Li's Yang is not in the movie for very long, arriving at the last minute as part of Trench's "B-team" along with Harrison Ford's CIA Agent Max Drummer. While the core group does the damage from ground-level, Trench and Yang sit together in the helicopter that Drummer pilots, firing an endless number of bullets from the sky. Needless to say, it's not a great use of Schwarzenegger and Li's physical talents. But in the final scene, Li and Schwarzenegger are snuggling in the bar over a beer and whispering things in each other's ear. Schwarzenegger doesn't really cuddle Li as much as engorge him, as Schwarzenegger is much larger than the diminutive martial arts legend. It's an amusing visual.

What's interesting is where The Expendables diverts from the 80's action movies of yore. Most of these heroes would commit improbable feats of extreme strength and power, only to be "rewarded" by whomever the hottie-of-the-moment was in movies. Though he was about as sexy as a large boulder, Schwarzenegger shacked up with the likes of Sharon Stone and Jamie Lee Curtis in the 1980s and 1990s. Jet Li was less overtly sexual, though when he came to the States his characters developed romances with the likes of Carla Gugino and Aaliyah.

But The Expendables 3, so crowded with testosterone, has absolutely zero romance for anyone; the closest they gotten was Wesley Snipes asking Ronda Rousey to call him. Maybe it's a deleted scene, but I doubt she took him up on that offer. Regardless, these are basically sexless movies. So for the first hint of romance to come from Trench Mauser and Yin Yang, of all characters? It's certainly unique! Maybe for the sequel, one of the new fixes could be a peak at Trench and Yin trying to live a nice quiet life in the suburbs as the most normal couple you can imagine. Make this happen, Lionsgate!

The Expendables 3 hits theaters this weekend, presenting to the fans just about all the remaining action stars still around. The series has attempted to be a greatest-hits collection for the action movie legends in our midst, but they never feel complete as far as a collection of the all-time greatest tough guys and gals. The new one is even more egregious than the last ones: if you loved Jean-Claude Van Damme in The Expendables 2, you'll love Glen (who?) Powell!

So what if there was someone out there recognizing the legacy of great action stars, who respected the history and spotlighted the very best of the genre? And what if that person was us?

Presenting The Action Movie Hall Of Fame. Below, there are the 10 inaugural inductees -- performers who have shaped and crafted the action genre and emerged as stars, legends and icons. Some are in this weekend's The Expendables 3. And some are in your Netflix queue, at your local library, or even on YouTube, waiting to be discovered or appreciated. We tried to spotlight performers who had a single concentrated peak of their talents, while also addressing those who put a premium on action films over any other genres, even when the films would get disreputable. To be in the Action Hall Of Fame, you need b-movies on your resume as much as you need A-movies. It's also important that we spotlight practical action stars, guys and gals who played characters that fought other human beings in real settings. If you've spent your career punching special effects, you won't get in.

Here are the ten inaugural inductees.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Years Active: 1969-Present

Most Popular Period: 1982 (Conan The Barbarian) to 1996 (Eraser)

Best Movie: The Terminator

Reason Why He's In The Hall Of Fame: Despite only standing 6"2', when Arnold Schwarzenegger stood onscreen, it felt as if you'd never seen a bigger movie star. Schwarzenegger took action films into the mainstream, as they went from disreputable time-wasters to our number one film genre. The former Mr. Universe didn't need to speak to grab your attention, as he began Conan The Barbarian nearly silent. But when he talked, that deep-bottomed timbre echoed as he said things like his first words in Conan, when asked what is best in life: "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women." That comes from Robert E. Howard, one of the most influential pulp writers of all time, but when you hear Schwarzenegger say it, you can't imagine it coming from anyone else's mouth. Schwarzenegger's genius may have been in marketing: audiences feared him when he was the indestructible T-100 in The Terminator, and he was still an intimidating figure of awe by the time he dominated Commando or starred as the crafty prisoner in The Running Man. But when he reprised his role in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, it revealed an icon learning to be a man, a hero who wanted to be human like us. But he couldn't be: he was just too awesome.

Charles Bronson

Years Active: 1949-1999

Most Popular Period: 1960 (The Magnificent Seven) to 1986 (Murphy's Law)

Best Movie: Once Upon A Time In The West

Reason Why He's In The Hall Of Fame: Bronson was not the most handsome actor, and everyone knew it. It's why he was reduced to supporting roles for years, zig-zagging between television and movies. But in bit roles, he brought a certain soft-spoken machismo that was undeniable to action fans. Somehow, he could give off the impression that he could beat you down, outwit you or even simply outrace you to the truth. This made him a perfect fit for westerns, where his weathered visage and sage delivery was right at home. Later in his career, age turned him into something of a brutal predator: he squeezed the blood of five movies out of the rock that was Death Wish, captivating a nation by becoming a geriatric avenger bound to clean up the streets. If Rambo was the 80's fantasy of a hero traveling overseas to employ brute force, Death Wish was the secretly more-attainable plan, where anyone could clean up the streets, as long as they had Bronson's scowl. In his later years, he basically became the face of b-movie factory Cannon, bringing gravitas and toughness to actioners like 10 To Midnight and Murphy's Law. He was still doing action films at 81 when he passed away.

Sylvester Stallone

Years Active: 1970-Present

Most Popular Period: 1976 (Rocky) to 1990 (Rocky V)

Best Movie: Rocky

Reason Why He's In The Hall Of Fame: Stallone was the template for serious actors who make the decision to purposely pursue action films. As a leading man, he started taking on films that he could reshape in his image, making him look powerful as he began to live in the gym. Rocky is not an action hero, he's really nothing more that an everyday puncher from Philly who got lucky. But in Stallone's eyes he was Hercules, a musclebound gladiator who took on mythical dimensions as he ran through a series of improbable trials. This understanding of who Rocky became extended to other films: First Blood was about a disillusioned, harassed vet named John Rambo, but Rambo: First Blood Part II (note the title change) was about an unstoppable American superman bathed in the flag. Stallone openly admits to having a rivalry with Schwarzenegger at the time, which you can see in the films: Stallone restlessly experimented with new ways of making him look formidable. He was a renegade cop in Nighthawks, but an even more powerful policeman in Cobra. Stallone had a mini-resurgence in the 90's, but it did not last. However, he is singlehandedly responsible for giving life to the Expendables franchise and providing a showcase for the great stars of the genre.

Jackie Chan

Years Active: 1962-Present

Most Popular Period: 1978 (Snake In The Eagle's Shadow) to 1998 (Rush Hour)

Best Movie: Drunken Master 2

Reason Why He's In The Hall Of Fame: Beyond action, Jackie Chan is perhaps the most skilled physical performer on film in the last fifty years. What Chan does onscreen, with minimal stuntwork and no doubles, is stunning. Chan's skill allowed him to pioneer a movement in martial arts films towards more humorous directions, poking fun at respected tropes while also respecting them with his considerable physicality. And as Chan's workload increased, you could see more of an academic effort to top oneself through his films – 1978's Drunken Master was a breakthrough in lightweight combat-oriented martial artst. But Drunken Master 2 is a dizzying adventure with dozens of extras and a stupefying final battle that possibly hasn't been topped since. Chan's efforts were not limited to fights, of course: cop film Police Story has some of the most dangerous and eye-popping stunts one could see, death-defying moments that Hollywood tried, and failed, to replicate. Chan, amusingly, was a rarity in action cinema: a star who tried his very hardest to make sequels that improved upon the original. He broke through to America not with an American vehicle, but with the dubbed Rumble In The Bronx, a breakthrough hit for a foreign film of any genre. While the success of Rush Hour provided him additional opportunities to succeed in America, he was displeased with the level of control he had on his own movies, and would often head back home, though as he aged his films became less bombastic and more focused on drama.

Bruce Lee

Years Active: 1967-1973

Most Popular Period: 1971 (The Big Boss) to 1973 (Game Of Death)

Best Movie: The Chinese Connection

Reason Why He's In The Hall Of Fame: Bruce Lee changed martial arts forever, becoming the tool that bridged the gap between foreign films and American ones. His big breakout came from playing Kato in The Green Hornet, a role that tested his considerable skills as both a physical on-camera talent and actor. His on-screen career was short, but each film was its own masterpiece, and not just a showcase for a then-young fighter. The Chinese Connection relied on a jokey spy story, but it featured some of the most ferocious martial arts footage fans have seen. Way Of The Dragon was a diverse combat film that found Lee brawling with Chuck Norris. And his final film, Enter The Dragon was a rightful huge success, showcasing him in an ensemble alongside the likes of Jim Kelly and John Saxon. It would have been the beginning of a long and fruitful career: Lee was just getting very familiar with behind-the-camera work, and surely would have been directing more than just Way Of The Dragon.

Clint Eastwood

Years Active: 1963-Present

Most Popular Period: 1964 (A Fistful Of Dollars) to 1990 (The Rookie)

Best Movie: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Reason Why He's In The Hall Of Fame: Like Bronson, Eastwood started with bit parts in westerns, graduating towards lead roles gradually. And like Bronson, he had a tough-talking macho appeal. Besides that, Eastwood is likely the definitive American badass, dabbling in action films every few years or so. But even though he's an Oscar-feted director today, you forget his name was once synonymous with violent throwdowns and shootouts. When he moved out of the western realm – much slower than others – he became a contemporary avenger with the Dirty Harry series, movies that celebrated the appeal of the unstoppable supercop who had no limits from the law. While Death Wish became a fairly harsh indictment of the taste of its audience, Eastwood's Dirty Harry movies eventually evolved into something of an American James Bond, and Eastwood's performance was always indicative of a man of boundless tough guy spirit. Later in his career, he even managed to make Unforgiven, which took to task the moral irresponsibility of some of his earlier western characters, while still being able to kick ass, showing that Eastwood knew the difference between analyzing and denigrating.

Chow Yun-Fat

Years Active: 1976-Present

Most Popular Period: 1986 (A Better Tomorrow) to 2000 (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)

Best Movie: Hard Boiled/The Killer

Reason Why He's In The Hall Of Fame: Chow Yun-Fat was, and remains, a versatile actor, capable of conveying gravitas and comedy in equal measures throughout a diverse career. But, more importantly, he's also an actor who elevated the genre as it, in turn, elevated him. He will forever be remembered by his collaborations with John Woo when the director was in his prime, starring in the double whammy of The Killer and Hard Boiled. Not only did he make two of the greatest action movies of all time with Woo, but he did it back to back. In both films he radiates a primal intelligence that never seems sharper than it does when he's handling weaponry. As such, the Hard Boiled quote is relevant: "Give a guy a gun, he think he's Superman. Give him two and he thinks he's God." Yun-Fat's particular brand of cool didn't translate to mainstream America, though re-evaluation is due for The Replacement Killers and especially The Corrupter, action-heavy noirs that introduce him to America as an avenging angel packing heat. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon became his biggest film, allowing him to explore other genres, and so, with age, he's moved a bit slower, sometimes appearing in big budget wuxia films, but every fan in the world has been praying that he'd re-team with Mr. Woo once again.

Jet Li

Years Active: 1982-Present

Most Popular Period: 1991 (Once Upon A Time In China) to 2006 (Fearless)

Best Movie: Once Upon A Time In America

Reason Why He's In The Hall Of Fame: Li is one of the all-time greatest martial artists in cinema history. But he was always more academic than his peers, mostly avoiding comedy until late in his career, preferring characters that spotlighted stoicism, contrasting with his size and baby-soft features. Li managed to avoid branching out too far, having one of the "safest" careers in the industry: he made three Shaolin Temple films early in his career, and stuck with Once Upon A Time In China until the end. And he was reluctant to come to America unless he had a legit lead role waiting for him, which he finally did with Romeo Must Die (the tradeoff was Lethal Weapon 4). Watching him in action, you're struck by just how smoothly he moves, and just how much savage brutality is encased in a brief shift from a standing motion to attack mode. He's compact and powerful, and onscreen it's allowed him to achieve feats no material artist ever has. It doesn't feel like Li ever compromised, even though his films in America have marginalized his talents. He knew when to stop, he knew when to pull back: in his films, his characters are ones of savage violence and brutality, but they are never murderers. But while others could fight almost as well as he could, he earns a special distinction for being possibly the most skilled wirework combatant in film history. No martial artist could fly, and yet he often came so close.

Bruce Willis

Years Active: 1987-Present

Most Popular Period: 1988 (Die Hard) to 1998 (Armageddon)

Best Movie: Die Hard

Reason Why He's In The Hall Of Fame: Willis went from, "Him?" to "Of course," within the blink of an eye. It might have been when he launched himself off the roof to Nakatomi Plaza where he cemented his reputation as the action star who went the extra mile to overcompensate. When he first played John McClane, it was the everyman as the hero, a guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, forced to become John Wayne when he was really how audiences saw him: the wisecracking romantic lead of Moonlighting. A few muscles later, and a little bit of stardom, and Willis was able to shape his image as America's bitter, seen-it-all jerk. Die Hard became his bread and butter, and you can see his change in each of those films: in the second one, he's the plucky comic hero of Hudson Hawk, a charmer more than a killer who nonetheless knew how to take care of himself. And by Die Hard With A Vengeance, he's the bitter, seen-it-all jerk of The Last Boy Scout, the man who will wake up, face down, hung over, and demand a cigarette before headbutting a man to death. Willis had a short peak, abandoning the genre to become more of a straight actor. That didn't seem to catch, and in recent years he's shown a spectacular dedication to the genre: even though the movies have been a bit weaker, Bruce Willis' name on the tin is something of a guarantee.

Pam Grier

Years Active: 1969-Present

Most Popular Period: 1971 (The Big Doll House) to 1975 (Friday Foster)

Best Movie: Coffy

Reason Why She's In The Hall Of Fame: Blaxploitation was a genre that existed because black people were becoming increasingly marginalized in mainstream cinema. While its roots were radical, it was also a movement steeped in inclusion and progress, which is how one of its faces was female, despite the "historic" mainstream American cinema of the era strongly preferring men. Grier was a stunner, a woman who wielded her beauty like a lethal weapon, who suffered no fools and did no favors. She wasn't "the girlfriend" or "the prostitute", common roles for women in that era in and out of blaxploitation. She was the mover and shaker, able to take up an opponent in fisticuffs as well as use a firearm. Grier's peak was small because the genre's was as well, and because Hollywood undergoes periods where they simply ignore women: she would return later to bring toughness to Fort Apache The Bronx and she teamed with Steven Seagal in Above The Law. But she had maybe the greatest latter-day role of any action star when she was brought back to the mainstream with Jackie Brown. Older, wiser and tougher, she's 50 feet tall in Quentin Tarantino's crime drama, as if the seventies never ended, that someone had merely turned the page.

After months and months of speculation and rumor - some of it generated by Sylvester Stallone himself - the full cast of The Expendables 3 has been announced, and what's more we now have the movie's first official plot synopsis as well.

With production on the film officially beginning today all the way out in Sofia, Bulgaria, Lionsgate and Millennium Films have officially announced that Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews and Arnold Schwarzenegger are all set to reprise their roles from the first two movies in the franchise, while new additions will include Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Kellan Lutz, MMA star Ronda Rousey, welterweight boxing champion Victor Ortiz and Glen Powell. Despite reports from earlier this year, it would appear that Nicolas Cage, Jackie Chan and Milla Jovovich won't be part of the project (though I suppose you can't fully rule out surprise cameos at this stage).

The Expendables 3, which is being directed by Australian filmmaker Patrick Hughes, is based on a script by Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt and Sylvester Stallone, and you can read the film's full plot synopsis below:

Strangely, Gibson's role as an arms dealer sounds very similar to his part in Robert Rodriguez's Machete Kills. Hopefully we can trust Gibson as a performer to give varied performances so that the two roles don't seem too overly similar. Either that or maybe find a way to have The Expendables 3 include Danny Trejo as Machete...

This plot description also upturns earlier plot rumors that suggested that the new movie would feature a whole team of younger tech-savvy mercenaries that The Expendables would have to square off against before uniting with against Gibson's character. Basically, it sounds like whoever assembled the rumor had the right pieces of the puzzle but didn't put them together properly. The official plot synopsis doesn't mention it, but presumably Lutz and Powell will be playing the young geniuses that join the titular group.

The Expendables 3 will be in theaters on August 15, 2014.

Venerable martial arts action star and internationally acclaimed actor Jet Li will be officially endorsing the amazing new game from Snail Games, Age of Wushu. The title is an MMORPG that focuses on the ethic and craft of martial arts and offers gamers a very different kind of role-playing martial arts experience.

Designed in a similar vein to movies like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Jet Li's own Hero, Age of Wushu is an MMO set within a fantastical and grand land where players will venture throughout the continent to study various forms of martial arts, form schools or join schools and steal ancient martial arts secrets by battling some of the toughest bosses around.

The other highlight to Age of Wushu is how freaking awesome the actual fighting is. You can also perform katas, blocks, dodges and the actual fighting mechanics evolve beyond just punching and kicking and give real martial arts enthusiasts technical maneuvers to perform that can alter the way a fight plays out. It's good stuff.

The game also has a fairly detailed create-a-character, so there's little possibility of running into generic clones due to the face and customization options.

Circling back around to Jet Li...the big movie star who will be in the upcoming film, The Expendables II, alongside Stallone, Stathom, Schwarzenegger, Willis and Norris, will be endorsing Age of Wushu for two years, promoting the game with TV commercials and more during his endorsement run.

You can learn more about Age of Wushu or sign up to participate in the beta by visiting the Official Website.

The Expendables 2 is bringing in a lot of new tough guys to join in the mayhem this summer, but you can't have a proper sequel without some returning characters. That's why we're especially excited to debut today the exclusive character poster featuring Jet Li, who played Yin Yang in the original film and is back for the sequel, joining the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, and many more. Check out the exclusive poster premiere below, and click on it for the bigger version.

In The Expendables 2, we once again find this band of tough guys on a mission, but as the official plot outline says, "this time it's personal." Here's the full plot synopsis if you want to know more:

Character posters for The Expendables are debuting all over the web today, so check out the homepages of all of these sites to see the full poster collection!

-ComingSoon.net

-MTV Movies

-Ain't It Cool News

-AOL Moviefone

-Fandango

-Yahoo! Movies

-Collider

-Hitfix

-IGN

-JoBlo

-Facebook.com/TheExpendablesMovie

The Expendables opens August 17 this year. For more on the movie you can visit the Facebook page or the official site.

Oh my lord, my head just exploded. As if Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendable didn’t already sound awesome to begin with. I mean, Sly’s got Mickey Rourke on board, Jason Statham, Jet Li. He’s playing a part himself. He even somehow got the good old Governor of the place I call home to come back to action movies and shooting some dudes (thank the lord for that too, anything that’ll get him away from his desk).

Now MTV is confirming the rumor that Bruce Willis will be rounding out the cast of the movie, about a group of mercenaries that set out to take down a foreign dictator. I’m not always the most patriotic person in the world (by “not always,” I mean never), but this movie is uniquely American, and I will definitely be bringing my flag and constitution-approved weapon to the theatre (kidding, security).

It sounds as though the roles for Sly, Arnold, and Bruno will be small, perhaps only a short fan-service cameo where everyone in the theatre will get to cheer for 30 seconds. That’s more than enough for me though. Sly knows what his fans want. Violence. Distinct lines between good and evil. Cameos from people that we loved in our childhood. Man, when do tickets go on sale?